11 Reasons Why The Qatar World Cup Is Going To Be A Disaster

Nine years before the 2022
Qatar World Cup, the country is being criticized for everything
from logistics to bribery to human rights abuses.

It's a burgeoning disaster. Here's why.

1. They're allegedly using 'modern-day slavery' to build
the infrastructure.

The Guardian had
a big report this week about the mistreatment of Nepalese
migrant workers in Qatar. The workers — some of whom are working
on the planned city which will host the 2022 World Cup final —
accused their employers of withholding pay, forcing them to work
in heat without water, making them live in squalid camps, and
confiscating their passports to keep them from leaving the
country.

From June to August, at least 44 Nepalese died in Qatar from
working construction, the Guardian reports.

2. It's 120 degrees in summer so they'll probably have to
play the tournament in winter.

3. Homosexuality is illegal there.

While Qatar has more liberal policies than many Middle
Eastern countries, it still has strict anti-gay
laws. FIFA president Sepp
Blatter recommended that gay men who want to go to the World
Cup should "refrain from any sexual
activities."

Sean Gallup/Getty Images

4. There were widespread bribery allegations during the
bidding process.

5. There are no stadiums.

6. Entire cities that are necessary to host the
event don't exist yet.

It will
cost Qatar $220 billion to host the World Cup. They don't
have the stadiums, hotels, or infrastructure to the host the
event, so they have to build it all from scratch before 2022. By
comparison, it cost South Africa $3.5 billion.

Qatar promised to build space-age stadiums that had unprecedented
cooling technology so that the event could be held during the
summer. But after they won the bid, they scrapped that plan.
According to ESPN, the architecture firm that will build the
stadium said "the system is too expensive and
'notoriously unsustainable' for the environment when used on a
large scale."

Handout/Getty
Images

8. Playing it in winter will totally screw up the
European leagues.

For many of these huge global stars, the club matters more than
the country. While the World Cup is a huge event, postponing the
English, Spanish, and Italian leagues will be a huge headache for
everyone involved.

UEFA

9. FIFA will have to renegotiate all the TV
contracts.

FIFA is holding secret talks with television networks from across
the world in case the World Cup is moved to the winter,
the Telegraph reports. Fox paid a record $425 million for the
next two tournaments under the assumption that it would be played
in summer and not clash with the NFL.

Harold Cunningham/Getty
Images

10. It'll get drowned out by football in America.

The World Cup is the only time when mainstream America pays
attention to soccer. If it has to compete with the NFL it'd be a
disaster, especially if it's held in January and goes up against
the playoffs.

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

11. They probably won't sell beer in the
stadiums.

There are select hotels and bars in Doha where you're allowed to
drink. But you can't have alcohol or be drunk in public. It will
be the most sober World Cup ever.